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Mexico ranks first in the world for child obesity

In May 2014, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development reported that Mexico has the highest child obesity rates in the world.

According to a 2012 Mexican national nutrition survey, 35 per cent of the country’s adolescents (ages 11 to 19) are overweight or obese. These rates raised from 33.2 per cent in 2006 to 34.9 per cent in 2012. Like the U.S. and Canada, poor diet and nutrition education, large portion sizes, confusing product labeling and the low cost of processed foods are among the obesity risk factors.

Further, poor access to water and easy access to U.S.-imported soda (the average Mexican drinks 46 gallons per year, making Mexico the world’s number one per capita soda consumer), along with the heavy public security restrictions on outdoor activity for most Mexican children, contribute to rising obesity rates, reports Al Jazeera America.

According to Live Strong, over a span of 14 years, there has been a decrease of 30 per cent in fresh fruit and vegetable purchases and an increase of 40 per cent in sugary beverages purchased in Mexico. Also, Mexican children who live in economically developed areas are more likely to become obese versus children who live in less developed areas who tend to be malnourished.

Regardless of their socioeconomic status, most Mexican children are at risk of obesity, which calls for a national prevention strategy. So far, to help combat obesity, Mexico’s Congress passed legislation in 2010 that intended to decrease how much junk food was sold in Mexican schools and to give students the opportunity to get 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Although these efforts were put in place, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico claims the reforms are difficult to implement due to class schedules.

As of March 17, 2016, Al Jazeera America has been the only one to directly report on Mexico’s world-leading child obesity rates, while corporate media coverage remains unseen.

About this project

“Project Censored is one of the organizations that we should listen to, to be assured that our newspapers and our broadcasting outlets are practicing thorough and ethical journalism.” —Walter Cronkite

The School of Journalism's Top 25 Under-Reported Stories was developed in partnership with Project Censored. Project Censored was founded in 1976 as part of a media literacy course in Sonoma, California. Today it is operated by the Media Freedom Foundation. Hundreds of students across the U.S. and around the world contribute information about under-reported stories. Every year, the Media Freedom Foundation picks 25 to publish in their annual book. Project Censored on the Web.